need advise for a dive comp.

[scubaranger]

Ok It Sat. and a sunny day here in miami and I"m stuck at work this stinks.

so I need some advise.
My question is I want to buy a dive comp.
some things I"m looking for are;
1)air integrated with a gauge back up ( I have a reason for this)
2)compuss integrated
3) quick disconnect
4) with a nitrox program included (I'll take this class later this summer)

all that I asked for,is there somthing out there that has this.
I"M shying away from scubapro(uwatec) brand for two reasons 1 is they had software problems last year. 2 is they don't participate in rodale's equipment public testing.

thanks for any info out there.
alex t.

 

[erikharwell]

I have not seen one that has everything you are looking for.

 

[cyklon_300]

reason no. 2 have to do with anything...?

If Rodales want to test an item, all they have to do is just go purchase one and test it...and then all you have to do is decide whether their review has any real-world value.

Using the mags to make your consumer decisions isn't the way to go.

 

[scubaranger]

reason no. 2 have to do with anything...?

If Rodales want to test an item, all they have to do is just go purchase one and test it...and then all you have to do is decide whether their review has any real-world value.

Using the mags to make your consumer decisions isn't the way to go.

It's another resource that I can use like consumer report or the safety report for cars.

reason 2 is I have a compuss on my gauges now I like it and i have used it. i tryed the wrist and I just want to stream line and it's oncomfortable to me.
Rodales dosn't purchase the items the company loan them their items. so all their reviews are from compuny that volunteir but scubapro refuses to.

 

[scubaranger]

reason no. 2 have to do with anything...?

If Rodales want to test an item, all they have to do is just go purchase one and test it...and then all you have to do is decide whether their review has any real-world value.

Using the mags to make your consumer decisions isn't the way to go.

It's another resource that I can use like consumer report or the safety report for cars.

reason 2 is I have a compuss on my gauges now, I like it and i have used it. i tryed the wrist and I just want to stream line and it's oncomfortable to me.
Rodales dosn't purchase the items the company loan them their items. so all their reviews are from compuny that volunteir but scubapro refuses to.

 

[mech]

Ever read a bad review from Rodales?

 

[scubatim77]

I have not seen any air integrated computers that also have an analog gauge back up. I think the reason you want that is so if your computer fails, you still know how much air you have, if there is another reason, please share, but that is what most people's concern is. Air integration is a great feature on a computer, I swear by it, but computer failing during a dive is a risk you have to take as far as I know since I don't know of any computer that has a gauge backup. If you want a back up analog gauge, you will need to get a second HP hose and have to hoses to do the job. This is only possible if your regulator has two HP ports. This risk is controlable if you take proper precaustions such as changing the battery every two years as a minimum, checking the battery life the day before you plan on going diving as part of your dive checklist. Don't wait until you are setting your rig up on the dive boat to check to see if your battery is going to make it, unless you carry extra batteries in your save-a-dive kit.

As for Rodales, I don't trust magazines that have more advertising per page than stories. Rodales is nothing like consumer reports. That magazine is specifically for testing consumer products, Rodales is specifically for making money. If a company spends a lot of money in advertising, they get better reviews. That is typically how it works. They aren't an independant consumer reports type of magazine. Your best bet is to find a dive shop you trust and ask their advice. They may not carry the lines that the magazines say are the best, but most any peice of equipment in the market today is safe and reliable if you get it from a safe and reliable source. Equipment that fails is usually a result of poor maintenance.

If I were to make suggestions as to what computers to check out, I would say that the Sherwood Wisdom is a very easy to use computer that has all the features that you want, also look at the Suunto Cobra. I have had both, and neither one of them have me any troubles.

 

[GoBlue!]

Don't want this to turn into a Rodale's bashing thread, but given that you're using it to partially rule out an entire company's line, we ought to address it a bit....

It's another resource that I can use like consumer report or the safety report for cars.

True, but it's only one resource. You don't pick a grad school based on U.S. News & World Reports listings alone. You talk to people in the industry. Kudos to you for coming to scubaboard to ask our opinions...Rodale's, if anything, should only supplement what you read & learn elsewhere. If you find a bunch of experienced real-life divers praising Scubapro's equipment here, I'd hope that you'd consider that even more than Rodale's "reviews."

Rodales dosn't purchase the items the company loan them their items. so all their reviews are from compuny that volunteir but scubapro refuses to.

You don't see the inherent problems with this way of reviewing products?

I don't mean to tell you that Rodale's is worthless (I'll let others do that), but I'd strongly suggest that you don't use Rodale's as your sole guide to a gear purchase. Just like I'll take my LDS's opinion about the single brand that he carries with a grain of salt.

Jim

 

[scubajoe]

I"M shying away from scubapro(uwatec) brand for two reasons 1 is they had software problems last year. 2 is they don't participate in rodale's equipment public testing.

QUOTE]

So you won't use a ScubaPro computer because they aren'y in the Rodales reviews but you will wear a ScubaPro BC.
Strange logic. As to bad software, they fixed it.

Joe

 

[Max_Power]

Buy a Suunto Vytec (Air Intergrated) and stick it in the Suunto in line 3 which has a guage, and compass. See Suunto.com and download the console demo.